Minnetonka will have a new mayor come Jan. 5, and a new at-large council member will soon follow.

The Minnetonka City Council, minus Mayor Jan Callison, appointed Councilmember Terry Schneider mayor effective at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5. Schneider was chosen by a vote of 5-0 Nov. 24 to succeed Callison who will resign Jan. 5.

Earlier this month Callison was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. Neither Callison nor Schneider voted on the mayoral appointment. Schneider will vacate his at-large council position to serve the remaining year on Callison's term. Both positions are up for election in 2009.

Despite opposition to appointing a sitting council member mayor without inquiring to see if other city residents were interested, James Hiller and Bob Ellingson joined the remaining three council members who voted in favor, Dick Allendorf, Tony Wagner and Brad Wiersum.

"I want to thank the council for the honor," Schneider said.

During a Nov. 10 meeting the council decided to appoint a new mayor instead of holding a special election, which would've cost the city up to $10,000, according to City Manager John Gunyou.

Schneider is a qualified replacement for Callison, Hiller said, but the Ward 4 council member wanted all residents who were interested in becoming mayor to be considered. He said the decision to choose the new mayor from among its own ranks without considering other candidates arrogant.

"I feel we are going to appoint a capable man as mayor, but for the wrong reasons," he said. "I still believe we have to be open to other people."

The council members who supported choosing a sitting council member for the position said it would allow the council to get back to full strength as soon as possible.

If the process were opened up to all residents and one of the current council members were still chosen, it would delay the process to find a replacement council member and the city could be without a mayor for at least a month.

"I don't approach this as arrogance," Councilmember Tony Wagner said. "I look at this as a pragmatic approach. This is a temporary job. I want our citizens to have a hearing before a full council."

Now that future mayor is selected, the council will turn its attention to filling the remaining year of Schneider's at-large City Council seat by appointment.

City Manger Gunyou said that all qualified and interested residents were considered the last time council appointed a replacement to fill a vacancy. He suggested the same process this time.

"There was discussion that the process should be as open as possible," he said.

The city is asking that any city resident 18 and over who wishes to be considered for the at-large seat apply by no later than Dec. 30.

The council will rank applicants and decide to interview finalists before making a final decision for the new council member to be sworn in by Feb. 9.

For more information or to learn how to apply for the at-large vacancy visit www.eminnetonka.com or contact Karen Telega 952-939-211. For information about the duties of a City Council member contact City Manager John Gunyou at 952-939-8209.

City Manger Gunyou said that all qualified and interested residents were considered the last time council appointed a replacement to fill a vacancy. He suggested the same process this time.

"There was discussion that the process should be as open as possible," he said.

The city is asking that any city resident 18 and over who wishes to be considered for the at-large seat apply by no later than Dec. 30.

The council will rank applicants and decide to interview finalists before making a final decision for the new council member to be sworn in by Feb. 9.

For more information or to learn how to apply for the at-large vacancy visit www.eminnetonka.com or contact Karen Telega 952-939-211. For information about the duties of a City Council member contact City Manager John Gunyou at 952-939-8209.